I saw Gasquet's match against Tsonga. He wasn't really that impressive and kept making the same mistakes he always does, but a little less. For example, he really went for his forehand some of the times but got an unforced error for it. His backhand too wasn't too free flowing, except for a couple of gorgeous drives. The important thing is he stuck it out and made the 3rd round and now has to play Blake.

Who do you think will win this battle for Shanghai? I have a feeling Richard will win it.

Veronique

11-01-2007, 12:35 AM

Could go either way. James isn't anywhere as sharp as he was last year. I didn't find Richard too impressive against J0-Willy either. If James gives him a slew of UEs on routine exchanges like Jo-Willy did, then Richard will win. But there's a chance James might dictate play with Richard standing so far beyond the baseline. He could take the ball early and finish off points fast, not allowing for unnecessary long rallies. If he hits 50 winners like he did in today's match, he's going to win.

selyoink

11-01-2007, 01:16 AM

Battle of two mugs. At least Gasquet has made the semis of a slam so I hope he wins.

Bad Religion

11-01-2007, 01:33 AM

Mug vs Mug

The winner will be a Mug , that's for sure

Merton

11-01-2007, 01:47 AM

The one who chokes next to last.

switz

11-01-2007, 01:51 AM

Gasquet normally produces brilliant tennis in the match after he squeezes out a tight one.

It's really time for Richie to step up to the plate though. Big home tournament, top 10 opponent and place in the Masters Cup on the line. He needs to wins this!!

I won't hold my breath though. Although beating Tsonga indoors is actually quite a good win considering he lost to him a couple of weeks ago.

richie21

11-01-2007, 01:54 AM

Gasquet in straight sets.
Gasquet is not very good this year to say the least but Blake is hopeless this year.

SerenaFederer

11-01-2007, 01:56 AM

blake!!! wo0t....fingers crossed :)

marcRD

11-01-2007, 01:59 AM

Gasquets backhand will destroy Blakes backhand and will decide the match.

TankingTheSet

11-01-2007, 02:13 AM

Blake would have been in his hotel at about 3:00am local time tonight, and is up to play Gasquet late afternoon. I don't think that helps alhough I agree with other posters that Gasquet is far from impressive at the moment.

neenah

11-01-2007, 02:18 AM

I hope Richie wins. :)

ASP0315

11-01-2007, 04:11 AM

richie is way better than that mug blake. i think he will win.

TMJordan

11-01-2007, 04:13 AM

Richie 2 and 3.

RagingLamb

11-01-2007, 04:20 AM

I'm hoping Gasquet.

Allure

11-01-2007, 04:30 AM

Very unsure. Could go either way.

njnetswill

11-01-2007, 04:39 AM

Hoping Gasuqet, expecting Blake.

supertommyhaas

11-01-2007, 04:44 AM

Surely Gasquet can beat Flake!! IM mean has this guy ever made a quarter final of a Grand slam or Masters Series event outside of the uSA?? Excluding last season's end of year masters. 6-4 6-4 Gasquet

prima donna

11-01-2007, 04:49 AM

Blake 7-5, 6-2

Xristos

11-01-2007, 05:06 AM

Blake takes this in 3.

Bilbo

11-01-2007, 06:26 AM

hopefully gasquet

World Beater

11-01-2007, 06:28 AM

gasquet's game seemed to give blake a lot of trouble the last time they met.

LisaKoh

11-01-2007, 06:47 AM

Gasquet. Blake doesn't really know how to deal with variation.

HNCS

11-01-2007, 06:53 AM

should go to a three setter. but seriously don't know who. but i'll be happy either way.

tufani

11-01-2007, 07:41 AM

I hope, Richard will!

yeh yeh

11-01-2007, 09:49 AM

Hope gasguet wins so murray can kick his arse in the next round, gasguet is so annoying, he looks like an alien with his stumpy look and long head weirdo, hope this guy wins so he can get trashed, in an interview he said his main challengers for masters cup yesterday were berdych blake cans and robredo , he seems to forget that murray is waitin for him in the quarter final so hammer the little alien, ugly motherfucka

pascal'rG

11-01-2007, 09:55 AM

i would have say gasquet without doubt but having seen the mahut-blake match of yesterday i'm not totally sure because he seems to be at his best level and he played very very good in this match.
So it will depend on the form of gasquet. The good thing is that he knows how to deal with this kind of players and tsonga was a good previw of it.
I think it will depend on his first serve. if he can hit good first serve he would win but if not the returns of blake can do some damages...

Jozie

11-01-2007, 10:00 AM

Hope gasguet wins so murray can kick his arse in the next round, gasguet is so annoying, he looks like an alien with his stumpy look and long head weirdo, hope this guy wins so he can get trashed, in an interview he said his main challengers for masters cup yesterday were berdych blake cans and robredo , he seems to forget that murray is waitin for him in the quarter final so hammer the little alien, ugly motherfucka

You are such a sad sad person. Didn't realise that Murray had already beaten Santoro. Have I missed something? :confused:

Blue Heart24

11-01-2007, 10:33 AM

Richie will win :cool:

yeh yeh

11-01-2007, 11:03 AM

You are such a sad sad person. Didn't realise that Murray had already beaten Santoro. Have I missed something? :confused:

yeh alrite mate wateva you say, i must of hit a nerve there what your an ugly motherfucka aswell

Claroo

11-01-2007, 11:10 AM

Very unsure, could go either way.
Richard is too often hopeless against top ten players... But in front of his home crowd, who knows ?
Let's be optimistic, Richie in three :) (and in the same time, "Fabulous Fab" upsets Murray or at least makes him run during more than 3 hours :lol: )

Allure

11-01-2007, 01:20 PM

Hope gasguet wins so murray can kick his arse in the next round, gasguet is so annoying, he looks like an alien with his stumpy look and long head weirdo, hope this guy wins so he can get trashed, in an interview he said his main challengers for masters cup yesterday were berdych blake cans and robredo , he seems to forget that murray is waitin for him in the quarter final so hammer the little alien, ugly motherfucka

A Murray fan saying that Gasquet looks like an alien. :spit:

no name face

11-01-2007, 01:57 PM

I'd say Blake 6-4, 6-4
Feels like Gasquet would be a good matchup for Blake.

richie21

11-01-2007, 01:59 PM

I'd say Blake 6-4, 6-4
Feels like Gasquet would be a good matchup for Blake.

A guy whose style of play is compared to Federer certainly can't be a good match up for Blake :o

leng jai

11-01-2007, 02:01 PM

A guy whose style of play is compared to Federer certainly can't be a good match up for Blake :o

Great logic. Federer is a bad matchup for 95% of players on tour.

Loremaster

11-01-2007, 02:02 PM

it will go into 3rd set with both players trading good play for one set , and 3rd set will be like rollercoaster for both in mental way so It's hard to tell , unless one of them will play lights out

no name face

11-01-2007, 02:07 PM

A guy whose style of play is compared to Federer certainly can't be a good match up for Blake :o

He's not nearly as good as Federer (esp the serve and forehand side).
Blake has shown he can hang with Federer if he wasn't such an obsequious headcase. I dunno, if I was Blake, I would pound Gasquet's forehand (seeing as Blake's forehand can be good at times...). I don't know, I just see Gasquet being a good matchup for Blake (and I'm not a Blake fan). I could be wrong and Gasquet could win 3 and 2, but who knows.

Loremaster

11-01-2007, 02:10 PM

He's not nearly as good as Federer (esp the serve and forehand side).
Blake has shown he can hang with Federer if he wasn't such an obsequious headcase. I dunno, if I was Blake, I would pound Gasquet's forehand (seeing as Blake's forehand can be good at times...). I don't know, I just see Gasquet being a good matchup for Blake (and I'm not a Blake fan). I could be wrong and Gasquet could win 3 and 2, but who knows.

it depends what will James show , if he keeps firing that forehand hard there are few players who can catch up with him on fast surface or even on clay - the way he outshot Almagro at FO was jawdropping , but he also makes a lot of mistakes , I don't know either way both possible matchups - Murray-Gasquet or Murray-Blake have great potential

Puschkin

11-01-2007, 02:11 PM

if I was Blake, I would pound Gasquet's forehand (seeing as Blake's forehand can be good at times...).

If I was Gasquet, I would pound Blake's backhand (seeing as Gasquet's backhand can be good at times...) :D

Schu

11-01-2007, 02:35 PM

Hope gasguet wins so murray can kick his arse in the next round, gasguet is so annoying, he looks like an alien with his stumpy look and long head weirdo, hope this guy wins so he can get trashed, in an interview he said his main challengers for masters cup yesterday were berdych blake cans and robredo , he seems to forget that murray is waitin for him in the quarter final so hammer the little alien, ugly motherfucka

Cheering for the incredibly handsome Murray must have screwed up your eyesight. :cuckoo:

Hope Santoro drives the whinning Scotsman nuts!

AS for Blake/Gasquet - It just depends on who shows up. Both can be amazing shot makers or both can be amazing headcases. Gasquet has more variety which hopefull will stop Blake in his tracks but if Blake's forehand is on Gasquet is in for a tough time.

Puschkin

11-01-2007, 02:39 PM

Hope Santoro drives the whinning Scotsman nuts!

:topic: No, he didn't. He scored a "brilliant" win against one-legged Fabrice.

mineralwater

11-01-2007, 03:00 PM

No idea who will win, prob Gasquet as its in France but both are attacking players with pretty backhands. Should be a good match to watch rather than grind, grind grind...

trixtah

11-01-2007, 03:07 PM

Let's have Richard take this please--I'd like to have the current best 8 players in the world at the year end and that doesn't include James

zimzim

11-01-2007, 05:16 PM

Hope gasguet wins so murray can kick his arse in the next round, gasguet is so annoying, he looks like an alien with his stumpy look and long head weirdo, hope this guy wins so he can get trashed, in an interview he said his main challengers for masters cup yesterday were berdych blake cans and robredo , he seems to forget that murray is waitin for him in the quarter final so hammer the little alien, ugly motherfuckaHow old are you?:o